WHAT WE DO
Shoreline abuses -- Volunteers and citizens on the lake contact FOLKS ombudsmen to report abuses from septic overflows to unprotected construction activity. FOLKS ombudsmen will follow up with local contractors and/or authorities and attempt to correct abuses.
Each Spring and Fall more than 100 boats and hundreds of volunteers cover the 300 miles of shoreline to pick up trash left by unthinking lake users. Scuba divers pick up batteries, deck chairs and television sets from the bottom in highly used areas. Nearly 1,200 bags of trash are removed each year. Duke Energy hauls the trash and assists with objects too heavy for the volunteers.
Informational materials are displayed in libraries and at area fairs. Talks are given to local organizations. FOLKS provides boats and support for the annual pontoon classroom that is run by the Clemson extension service for 8- to 12-year olds to learn about the science and ecology of the lake. We host Quarterly Forums with well-known guest speakers and publish a bimonthly newsletter (FOLKS Sentinel). We also have a lake friendly demonstration garden at FOLKS headquarters.
Water clarity -- We measure 17 sites for water clarity every two weeks throughout the year. We have analyzed and charted data from 1994 to the present to determine trends and point out areas of concern.
Nutrients -- FOLKS continues its ceramic tiles project. The team pulls tiles from 13 locations and the algae collected is analyzed in a laboratory for chlorophyll content and total weight. Again, the effort is to identify trends and specific areas of concern.
Sediment -- Information from the Secchi disk program and sediment stage bottles placed in streams flowing into the lake is used for the measurement of sediment. Ongoing studies by Duke scientist Dr. David Braatz show that Little River alone contributes about 4 tons of sediment each day during normal flow, and thousands of times that during peak storm events. This sediment is filling up our coves and destroying habitat.
2006-2008 Clean Water Grant -- FOLKS has initiated a $430,000 “319 Project” with the support of a $256,400 grant from EPA/SCDHEC for a 3-year project to improve the water quality of Cane and Little Cane Creeks. FOLKS will work with a number of cooperative partners to accomplish this goal.
FOLKS is 501c (3) public service watershed organization.
Adopt-An-Island
The response to the limited publicity we have had on the Adopt-An-Island program is overwhelming. Almost 40 individuals and/or organizations -- kayak groups, fishing clubs, sailing and boating clubs, Boy Scout troops, HOAs, and individuals -- have volunteered to adopt one or more of the islands. At this moment, we only have 15 orphans of the 67 islands, and they will most likely be adopted by the time of our first island sweep in April.